Understanding Refusals

Abstract

The paper presents findings from a qualitative study (depth interviews in the one-to-one and dyad format), held with European Social Survey round 3 refusers in Poland. Its objective was to gather insights into reasons behind negative attitudes towards participation in surveys. Our research has shown that there is a need to distinguish between ‘active’ refusals and cases where surveys are ignored. In cases of ‘active’, conscious refusals there are some underlying reasons for refusal that could be challenged. On the other hand, social isolators ‘by choice’ make automatic refusals, without much thinking and, therefore, conversions are hardly possible in such cases.